I suspect you're looking at 2D RPG Top-down (Zelda) type view.
Altitudems had a great 2D system with a rain effect but the link no longer works. I always hoped an 'engine' would be release as there was also some nice looking lighting.
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Some Lightning code has been released before but I can't find it now.
This has some suggestions and a 'flash' (no strike) is discussed here .
I would use an image with lightblend and scale it or a short algo with decreasing drawrects where the end-point of one is the start-point of another.
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Hailstorms, rain, snow, meteor storms are all variations of the same particle effect but with different images and image mass.
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For underwater you can check Caustics but I haven't seen an effective full-screen 'wobble' as yet.
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Clouds/fog/gloom I would use a cloud layer with alphablend.
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Full screen blur will be tricky but this might help with a small number of images.
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Fire effect is particles again with different emitter shapes.
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Fullscreen 'colourise' is a screensized rect with setcolor and alphablend (isn't it?).
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Tornado/Whirlwind I'd probably use an animimage and rotate it about the point of contact with the ground.
An array with waypoints then atan2 and 'homing missile' code (there are lots in the Code Archives) to move from one point to another.
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I guess the professionals are busy making games to make money while the hobbyists can't commit the time.
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Altitudems had a great 2D system with a rain effect but the link no longer works. I always hoped an 'engine' would be release as there was also some nice looking lighting.
.
Some Lightning code has been released before but I can't find it now.
This has some suggestions and a 'flash' (no strike) is discussed here .
I would use an image with lightblend and scale it or a short algo with decreasing drawrects where the end-point of one is the start-point of another.
.
Hailstorms, rain, snow, meteor storms are all variations of the same particle effect but with different images and image mass.
.
For underwater you can check Caustics but I haven't seen an effective full-screen 'wobble' as yet.
.
Clouds/fog/gloom I would use a cloud layer with alphablend.
.
Full screen blur will be tricky but this might help with a small number of images.
.
Fire effect is particles again with different emitter shapes.
.
Fullscreen 'colourise' is a screensized rect with setcolor and alphablend (isn't it?).
.
Tornado/Whirlwind I'd probably use an animimage and rotate it about the point of contact with the ground.
An array with waypoints then atan2 and 'homing missile' code (there are lots in the Code Archives) to move from one point to another.
.
I guess the professionals are busy making games to make money while the hobbyists can't commit the time.
.